Date: 2014-11-20

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Kwara State chapter has described the Subsidy Re-Investment & Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) of the Presidency as a 'failed scheme' in Kwara State

The party was reacting to the protest rally held in Ilorin on Wednesday by SURE-P beneficiaries against the management of SURE-P in Kwara State.

In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sulyman Buhari, the APC said, "the hitherto struggling SURE-P scheme in Kwara State has snowballed to a failed scheme".

"With the issues raised by SURE-P beneficiaries on non-payment of stipends, mismanagement of SURE-P funds and politicisation of SURE-P. It is convincingly clear that the Kwara State Coordinator of SURE-P, Mr. Moses Ibiyemi has irresponsibly defied our earlier warning in August, 2014 that "any attempt to reduce SURE-P to a PDP affair, in an environment where 25 political parties exist, will perfectly mess up the struggling scheme".

"Now, the hitherto struggling SURE-P scheme in Kwara State has snowballed to a failed scheme.

"Or how better can anyone describe a situation whereby PDP membership card is now a clearance to receive monthly stipends of SURE-P in Kwara State? This is the same scheme whose first objective is, "To mitigate the immediate impact of the partial petroleum subsidy removal on the population by laying a foundation for the successful development of a national safety net programme that targets the poor and vulnerable on a continuous basis".

"What is this world would be Mr Moses Ibiyemi's justification for non-payment of stipends to thousands SURE-P beneficiaries, for 6 months, when all Kwarans still purchase Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the rate of N97/litre or more?

"The issues raised on the management of SURE-P in Kwara State by the victimised beneficiaries are genuine and veritable. Obviously, these are issues that can't be swept under the carpet by the boastful rantings and mere denial of Mr Moses Ibiyemi. He will certainly face the consequences of his actions and divisive policies.

"Mr Ibiyemi's divisive actions in the management of SURE-P in Kwara State has climaxed to a disturbing and dangerous level that fuels communal anger and crises within Kwara State.

"It is imperative at this point for President Goodluck Jonathan and the Presidency to call Mr Moses Ibiyemi to order. This is necessary to forestall a situation whereby Kwara State is thrown into inter-communal crises in the guise of SURE-P.", the statement read.